Baggage fastener



March 31, 1931. ELL|5 I 1,798,872

BAGGAGE FASTENER Filed March 5, 1929' 6 I gwuentoc A. H. Ellis Cutouuzq Patented Mar. 31, 1931 ARTHUR H. ELLIS, OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA BAGGAGE FASTENER Application filed March 5, 1929. Serial No. 344,518.

t that is placed upon the top of a car.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a baggage fastener that includes strap members 'or disposition across the baggage or luggage placed on the top of the car, means being associated with lit] the ends of the respective straps for attaching the same to the rain gutters or troughs arranged at the opposi e sides of the top of the vehicle of the closed type.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a baggage fastener of the above mentioned character that can be readily and easily attached to the top of a closed car and adjusted for disposition over the luggage or baggage to secure the same in proper position on the top of the car, and this without causing any injury to the top of the car or to the rain trough or gutters.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a baggage fastener of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding-parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which my improved baggage fastener is secured on the top of an automobile of the closed type for retaining the baggage'or luggage that is placed on the top of the automobile.

Figure 2 is an end elevation showingmore particularly the clamping means associated with the baggage fastener for attachment to the rain trough or gutter that extends along each side of the body of the vehicle adjacent the top thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse section takenapproximately on the line 33 of Figure 2 ooking downwardly, and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the vertically disposed arms forming a part of the baggage fastener.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the top of an automobile of the closed body type and extending along the sides of the body adjacent the top thereof are the usual rain troughs or gutters 2. Frequently tourists or campers will place their baggage or luggage on the top of the car so as to avoid taking up any space within the interior of the car or upon the running boards.

Where the luggage or baggage is thrown on the top of the car, there is always a possibility of the same falling off during the movement of the car, and it is therefore the principal aim of the present invention to provide a fastener for positively securing the baggage or luggage on the top of the car against displacement therefrom.

My improved baggage fastener comprises a pair of complementary units for dis osition adjacent the respective side edges 0 the top and as each of these units'is of identical construction, the description of one is thought to suffice for the description of both. Each unit is designated by the numeral 3, and the same includes a pair of vertically disposed spaced arms 4--4. Each arm is formed from a flat strip of metal, the upper end of which is bent back upon itself to form a loop 5, while the'side edges of the lower end portion of the strips are bent inwardly to form nut engaging flanges 6.

An elongated flat strip 7 extends across the upper end portions of the spaced arms 4 and the end portions of this strip are fixedly secured to the respective arms by any appropriatefastening means such as is shown at 8.

Attached to each looped upper end 5 is the rectangular shaped ring or bail 9. Suitable straps 10 are attached at their outer ends to the loops or bails 9 associated with the unit that is secured on one side of the top 1. Similar straps 12 are attached at their outer ends to the loops or bails 9 associated with the unit that is secured on the opposite side of the top 1, and suitable buckles 11 are 'carried by the free ends of the straps 10 for cooperation with the free ends of the complementary'straps 12 to secure the '17s straps together in their tightened position over the luggage or baggage A that is placed on the top 1 of the automobile.

For the purpose of detachably securing the units 3 to the respective rain troughs or gutters, I provide a pair of clamps 13 for each unit and in Figure 2 there is disclosed more clearly the construction of each of these clamps. Each clamp is formed from a strip of metal that is curved at its respective end portions and the lower end portion of each clamp has arranged on its inner face a felt strip 14 that is adapted to engage against the outer edge portion of the trough or gutter 2 so: that said clamps will not deface or otherwise damage the trough or gutter.

The upper portion oi each clamp 13 is iormedwith an opening that registers with a similar opening 15 formed in the lower end portion of each arm 4 and a headed bolt has its shank 16 disposed through the registering openings in the arm 4 and the respective .clamp 18. The head 17 of each boltis of rectangular shape for disposition against the outer face of the lower end portion of each arm and the inwardly directed flanges 6 engage with the respective sides of the head 17 to prevent turning of the bolt. A wing nut 18 is threaded on the outer end portion of the Shank 16 of each bolt for engagement with the outeriace or" the clamp 13 and obviously when the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 2, the clamp 13 will fixedly secure the respective unit LO the respective troughs or gutters.

When

the ba a e fastener is in use there 112: b 3

will be no possibility of the baggage or lug-- gage accidentallytalling 05 of the top or the car, and furthermore said fastener can be readily and easily disassembled to facilitate the removal of the same from the vehicle. By disconnecting the free ends of the straps 12 from the buckles 11, the baggage or luggage may he removed without necessitating the entire removal of the baggage fastener from the car.

The simplicity of my device enables the same to be constructed at a very low cost, and furthermore the device can be readily and easily attached or removed.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Let ters Patent is:

thereof, a pair of arms, means for detachably securing said arms at their lower ends to the respective troughs, and a flexible connection between the upper ends of the arms I for disposition across aggage placed on top of the vehicle to secure the same thereon, said first mentioned means comprising a clamp for association with the lower end of each arm, the lower end of each arm being disposed within the respective" trough, the lower portion of the respective clamp being adapted for engagement with the outer edge of the adjacent trough, and a bolt and nut connection between the upper portion of each clam and the adjacent portion of the respectlve arm.

2. In combination with a vehicle top, and the troughs extending along the side edges thereof, a pair of vertically disposed arms for disposition at each side of the top, an elongated bar inner-connecting the arms of each pair, the upper end of each arm being formed with a loop, a flexible connection between the looped upper ends of the opposed arms for disposition across baggage placed on top of the vehicle to secure the same thereon, and means for detachably securing the arms at their lower ends to their respective troughs, comprising a clamp for association with the lower end of each arm, the lower end of each arm being disposed within the respective troughs, the lower portion of the respective clamps being adapted for engagement with the outer edge of the adjacent trough, a bolt and nut connection between the upper portionot each clamp and the adjacent portion of the respective arm, each of said arms being formed with laterally disposed flanges at the side edges of the lower end thereof, to prevent rotation of the respective bolt.

in testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR H. ELLlS. 

